Women affected by the state pension age increase have warned the government of legal proceedings unless it reconsiders its stance on compensation. The campaign group Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) has issued a legal notice to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) following the government’s refusal to provide financial redress.
The dispute stems from a parliamentary ombudsman’s finding that 1950s-born women were victims of maladministration due to inadequate communication regarding the pension age rise. However, the government maintains that most affected individuals were aware of the changes and that a compensation package, estimated at £10bn, is unaffordable.
Ombudsman Ruling and Government Response
In March 2024, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) concluded that the government had failed to properly inform women born in the 1950s about the phased increase in their pension age.
This, the ombudsman found, led to financial hardship for many, as they were not given adequate time to adjust their retirement plans. The report recommended that those affected should receive compensation.
However, in December 2024, the government ruled out any financial redress, citing fiscal constraints. Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition at the time, acknowledged the concerns but argued that 90% of those impacted were already aware of the changes by 2006.
The government has since maintained that the cost of a £10.5bn compensation scheme would place an excessive burden on taxpayers.
According to a government spokesperson, although they accept the finding of maladministration, they do not believe this resulted in widespread injustice warranting compensation.
The DWP has instead apologised for the delay in notifying affected women but has stopped short of offering financial redress.
Waspi Campaigners Push for Legal Challenge
The Waspi campaign has now escalated the matter by sending a “letter before action” to the DWP, signalling potential High Court proceedings. Angela Madden, chair of the campaign, has accused the government of “gaslighting” affected women and dismissed its argument that compensation is unnecessary.
“The government has accepted that 1950s-born women are victims of maladministration, but it now says none of us suffered any injustice,” Madden stated. “We believe this is not only an outrage but legally wrong.”
The group argues that thousands of women have faced financial hardship due to the abrupt changes, with many forced to reconsider their retirement plans.
The campaign has previously received backing from senior Labour figures, including Rachel Reeves and Liz Kendall, both of whom supported the cause while in opposition.
With an estimated 3.6 million women affected, the dispute remains a significant political issue. Some MPs, including Brian Leishman, have urged the government to revisit the findings of the ombudsman’s report and seek a resolution before the matter reaches the courts.
